Subsurface fluid meter



May 15, 1962 H. D. HAMPTON SUBSURFACE FLUVID METER Filed Feb. 6, 1959 INVENTOR Ho r ry D. Ha mpon MKM@ ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,034,35tl SUBSURFAQE Film NmTER Harry Donald Hampton, Wichita Falls, Tex. (205 Clark Circle, Henrietta, Tex.) Filed Feb. 6, 1959, Ser. No. 791,732 2 Claims. (Cl. 7S-155) This invention relates to a subsurface tluid meter, land it concerns more particularly an instrument for detecting leaks in oil well casing.

An object of the invention is to provide a Vtool adapted to be lowered in a well casing, on a wire line, to adesired elevation and having means for collecting and weighing at the surface, by means of the wire line, a

sample of any well fluids which may be found at such `the lower end of the receptacle, whereby the receptacle is supported on the rod, and a second enlargement on its upper end for abutment against the upper end of the receptacle to urge the receptacle downwardly relative to the casing, and a valve disc on the rod above the rst enlargement for sliding engagement with the inner wall ot' the receptacle adjacent its lower end, to provide a closure therefor, when the rod is in an elevated position below its uppermost position relative to the receptacle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool as described which is capable of being raised and lowered in a well casing on a wire line, and in which well fluids may be admitted to the receptacle and `discharged therefrom by manipulating 4the wire line whereby the rod is lowered relative to the receptacle to thereby disengage the valve disc from the lower end of the receptacle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool as described in which the valve disc slidably Iengages the inner wall of the receptacle, in the manner of a piston, whereby the rod is capable of supporting la column of tliuid within the receptacle, independently of the receptacle, when the rod is in an elevated position below its uppermost position relative to the receptacle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool as described in which the weight of a column of uid within the receptacle may be determined by Erst weighing the rod `and its attachments, independently of the receptacle, in the open position of the valve disc, and thereafter weighing the rod and its attachments, together with the column of iiuid, in the closed position of the valve disc.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a tool as described which is of simple, sturdy construction and of light weight, may be manufactured inexpensively, and is eiiicient in operation and durable in use.

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. l is a sectional elevational View, taken on a median line, showing ya tool embodying the invention operatively positioned in a well casing, with the Valve disc in its closed position;

HG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevational View, on an enlarged scale, showing the valve disc in its open position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan View taken on the lines 3 3 of IFIG. 1; and

v Y 2 FIG. 4 isa sectional plan View taken on the lines of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a well bore, and the numeral 2v indicates a casing therein.

The device of the invention includes a tubular element 3, whichis open at its ends. The element 3 is adapted to be lowered in the casing 2, and hasa support therefor, indicated generally by the numeral 4, which trictionally and yielda'bly engages the inner wall of the casing 2.

An elongated rod 5 is arranged concentrically within the element 3, and is adapted to be suspended rfrom a wire line `6. The rod 5 is movable reciprooally relative to the element 3, and has ya round Weighted member 7 on its lower'e'nd for abutment against the lower end of the element 3, whereby the latter is supported on the rod A valve disc 9, which advantageously may be formed' of resilient material, isv positioned on the rod 5 above the member 7 for sliding engagement with the inner wall of theV element 3 adjacent its lower end, to provide a closure therefor, when the rod 5 is in an elevated position below its uppermost position relative to theY ele-l ment 3. p

The weighted member 7 comprises a separate piece which is threaded on the lower end of the rod 5.

The valve disc 9v is supported on an annular member lil which encircles the rod 5 and is positioned above the member '7.

An annular guide member 11, which is positioned above the valve disc 9, surrounds the rod 5 and is secured thereto by a transverse pin 12. A plurality of circumferentially spaced guide pins 13 extend radially outwardly from the guide member il ffor engagement with the inner wall ot the element 3 whereby the rod 5 is centered relative thereto.

The upper weighted member 8 comprises a separate piece having a central bore through which the rod 5 is passed, and is secured thereto by a set screw 14.

The support i includes a relatively short cylindrical member i5 which surrounds the element 3 intermediate its ends and is secured in spaced relation thereto by a. spider lo. A plurality of circumferentially spaced pins i7, which are connected at one end to the inner wall of the cylindrical member i5, extend radially inwardly therefrom through aligned openings provided therefor in the spider in and the element 3. The pins 17 connect the cylindrical member 1S and the spider lo to the element 3, and also serve as guides whereby the rod 5 is centered relative to the latter.

mediate its ends, are arranged longitudinally and spaced circumferentially relative to the cylindrical member 15.

The members l are adjustably and detachably connected at their ends, by set screws 19, to the peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 1S, and intermediate portions thereof rictionally and yieldably engage the inner wall of the casing 2.

The uppermost set screw 19 of each pair has a central opening in its outer-end `adapted to receive the adjacent end of one of the members i8, while the lowermost set screw i9 of the pair has a transverse slot in its outer end adapted to receive the adjacent end of the member i8. The set screws 19 are received in threaded openings provided therefor in the cylindrical member l5.

An annular litting Ztl is connected by threads to the upper end of the element 3'. The tting Ztl has a restricted top opening 21 lwhich serves asa guideY for centering the rod i relative to the element Si.

i i. 3 A K *Y A plurality of circurrv fereniiaiiy spaced fluid passages 22 are formed in the peripheral wall of the fitting 2?. Y

A pair of resilient sealing rings 23 surround the itting 20,beiow the iluid passages 22,-and'extend radially outwardiy therefrom for sealing engagement` with'the inner .-wali ofrthe'casing 2. The sealing yrings 273 aresandwiched between a plurality ofwashers 24, Whichjn'turnare se- -cui'edbetween a @downwardly facing Vexternal shoulder tformed on the tting 26 and a pair 'o set; screws 25 which ,arereceived vin threaded openings provided tllerefor in .the peripheral surface of thertting 2% below the washe -er's Z4.

The invention may be modified in various ways without departing from the spiitfmdY scope'thereof.

Whatiselaimedis: Y' Y' Y 15A tool -forlpdetecting leaks inoil -well casing, cornv 'prisinga tubular element' adapted to Vbe lowered in the gcasing, and a support therefor frictionally Yand y'ieldably iengaging the inner Wall of the casing, an elongated rod Aarranged concentrically Within the tubular element `and yadapted to bel suspended vfrom a wire line, the rod being movable reciprocally relative to the tubular element and having a first Weighted member on its lower Vend for abut- ,ment against the lower end ofthe tubulare1ement, Vwhereby the latter is supported on the rodwhen lowered-into tsaidvcasing, and a second yweighted member on its upper end-for abutmentagainst the Yupper end of the tubular .element to urge vthe sameV Vdownwardly relative to the casing, and a disc valve on the rod above the iirst weighted the tubular elementV adjaeent/ its lower end provi ving a closure therefor, when the rod and valve are in a position intermediate the upper and lowermost relative to the tubular element, whereby the-weight of the rod and the fluid within the tubular elementmay be sensed.

- 2. In a toolfor detecting leaks inroil well' casing, Vzornprising a tubular eiementadapted `to be loweredv in the( casing, yieldabie means Aon said tubular element adapted to friction'ally engage the inner wall of the leasing and support the element-therein, a rod concentrically arranged Within the Vtubular.: element and capable of, suspension from a wire line, and reciprocable Vlongitudinally of said tubular element,` a weighted Vnnernber on the lower Yend lof.V said rod engage'able with the lowerv end ofV said tubular jelle'rnent to support the same when lowered Vinto said casingon said rod, a second weighted member on the upper end of said rodiengageable-Awith the upper end of `the tubular element to urge the latterfdownwardly in the casing, a dise valve on the rod above the rstweighted member engaging the inner Wall of said tubular element t Erwin et a1. i De.1`3,1927 564,198 Y -E1kins r Aug.14, 1951 member for sliding vengagement witlithe inner Wall of 32,627,317 VYBaker Feb. 3, 1953 

